Saturday 4th November

The YKK Widnes Wild travelled over the M62 to face the Hull Jets for the first time since their promotion on Saturday. The Wild faced an unfortunate 4-2 loss after being relatively short-benched with a squad of 11+2 due to several unavailabilities and injuries. Meanwhile, Hull lined up with a healthy 17+2, including past Widnes players Rich Haggar, Kieran Beach, Kohen Taylor, Reaghan Taylor and Adam Jasecko.

Both teams were eager to put themselves ahead, forcing the netminders to flash the gloves early on in the first period. The first real chance came at 6:14 in favour to the Hull Jets, after Widnes Captain #84 Tom Jackson was sent to the box for holding. However, the Wild defence kept the Jets at bay and returned to full strength soon after. Several more opportunities were created during the opening 20 minutes, but neither side could find a way past the netminders. The Wild defence and #35 Luca Tessadri were heavily tested in the first, after 20 shots were recorded on the Widnes goal, compared to just the 3 put on Brown, but the score still remained 0-0.

Widnes entered the 2nd period with a 14 second PK after #11 Will Harper received a 2 minute slashing penalty late in the 1st at 18:14, but easily killed it to return to 5 men. Hull then managed to find a way through Luca with a nicely set up tap in for #40 Kieran Beach at 23:49, assisted #19 Rich Haggar and #14 Scott Morris to give the Jets a 1-0 lead. A man advantage for Widnes then followed after #7 Mark Florence sat 2 minutes for high sticks at 27:47.

Just 59 seconds later, Hull were awarded a penalty shot after Haggar crashed into Luca’s net. The former Wild player-coach made no mistake on his chance, extending the Jets’ lead to 2 goals at 28:46. Wild struggled to control the game in the 2nd period, and Hull punished them further at 34:35 through #90 Dec Jones, assisted by #77 Kerman and #46 Yeardley. #71 Jack Murray and #19 Haggar both received roughing penalties at 37:22 following a shot saved by Luca. Widnes were handed a late opportunity at 37:35 after Kerman sat 2 minutes for tripping, but they failed to capitalise, ending the period 3-0 to Hull.

Widnes came out determined to change the game, putting pressure on the Jets. This led to 2 penalties in quick succession for Hull, a cross check penalty for Ian Kerman at 43:42 and a holding penalty for #44 Kohen Taylor at 44:36, putting Wild 5on3. #18 Johnathon Williamson was the one to capitalise for Widnes at 44:53, assisted by Tom Jackson and Joey Coulter, in an effort to claw back the game. The Wild continued to dominate the next few minutes of the game, putting shots on #41 Brown. Widnes reduced the deficit back to 1 with a goal from Nathan Britton at 48:55, assisted by Joey Coulter and Jake Meehan.

The remainder of the game saw equal chances for both sides and the wild called a timeout at 56:47 to discuss tactics. Widnes then pulled Tessadri with 40 seconds remaining in a final attempt to level the score, but the buzzer went before they could, ending the game 3-2 to the Jets.

MVPs were awarded to #18 Johno Williamson for his solid performance for the Wild and forward #14 Scott Morris for Hull Jets.

Officials: Woodward, Goodfellow, Ryder

STATS-

Widnes Wild: Johnathon Williamson 1+0, Nathan Britton 1+0, Joey Coulter 0+2, Tom Jackson 0+1, Jake Meehan 0+1

Hull Jets: Rich Haggar 2+1, Kieran Beach 1+0, Dec Jones 1+0, Ian Kerman 0+1, Josh Yeardley 0+1, Scott Morris 0+1

The YKK Widnes Wild faced a 0-5 home defeat to the Hull Jets on Sunday, following a 4-2 loss on the away trip the previous night. The Wild squad was boosted to 18+2 with the return of the Scottish 2-ways and the change of Harrison Walker in-between the pipes. The lineup included both Bailey Thomson and Flynn Massie who were making their home debuts for Widnes, but they were still missing several key players after a run of injuries.

The first period opened with the Wild dominating the puck and putting several shots on #41 Zack Brown hoping they could catch him out early. However, Hull were handed an advantage at 3:55 after #11 Harper sat 2 minutes for checking, which they converted at 4:40 with #90 Dec Jones, assisted by #40 Kieran Beach and #19 Rich Haggar. Widnes were unable to equalise quickly, and the Jets soon doubled their lead to 2 with a goal from #19 Rich Haggar at 7:19, assisted by #18 Boris Giba and #14 Scott Morris.

Hull then found themselves on their first penalty kill of the game at 7:52, after Haggar received a 2 minute interference call for sending Massie into the boards. The rest of the period seemed to slow in pace after the Jets completed the PK, but multiple shots were still put on the netminders which they comfortably saved. Another chance was given to Hull late in the 1st at 17:41 when #71 Jack Murray was handed an interference penalty. However, the Wild defence prevented the Jets adding to their 2-0 lead after 20 minutes.

The second period saw early chances for both sides, but they were unable to capitalise. The Jets were on the PK again at 23:35 following a tripping penalty on #77 Ian Kerman. Widnes rifled shots on Brown during the PP but he stood tall for Hull. Both defensive units performed in the 2nd period to prevent several shots being converted into goals.

Tensions were also rising, and eventually spilled at 31:44, seeing #11 Harper and #77 Kerman sit co-incidental roughing penalties, plus #5 Bailey Thomson sitting a slashing call, to leave the Wild a man down. Walker covered all the shots in the Hull PP allowing Widnes to return to 5 skaters still 2 goals behind. However, Hull soon increased the score to 3 at 35:36 from #14 Morris, assisted by #40 Beach and #19 Haggar. Just 13 seconds later, Widnes were a man short again after #19 Calum Ruddick was sent to the box for roughing. The Wild PK unit denied the Jets, and the 2nd period ended 0-3 in favour of the Jets.

Widnes returned for the final stint eager to reduce their deficit, putting Brown under pressure early. However, Hull added to the tally at 41:24 this time from #22 Alex Kent, assisted by #7 Mark Florence. This goal fired the Wild up even more to open their scoring and change the tide of the game. Murray then received a penalty at 47:28 for slashing, giving the Jets another opportunity on the PP. Hull converted for the final time at 49:16 with another shot from Kent, assisted by #27 Ethan Daintith to give the Jets a clear 0-5 lead.

The remaining 10 minutes saw a change of netminder for the Jets, with #35 Dom Smith stepping in. Smith was tested early on after both Kent and Daintith headed to the box for tripping and hooking, giving Widnes a 5on3 advantage for 55s at 52:43. Following their luck all game, Wild failed to reduce the deficit. Shortly after Hull completed their PK, #44 Kohen Taylor headed to the box for a 2+2 roughing call along with #17 Innes Gallacher who only sat 2 for roughing at 55:44. The closest Widnes came on the PP was a snipe from Conner McNulty, but it was narrowly blocked by Smith. Hull returned to full strength and the buzzer sounded soon after, ending a disappointing evening for Widnes at a 0-5 loss.

MVPs were awarded to former Wild defenseman Kohen Taylor for the Hull Jets, and Kilmarnock Thunder 2-way forward Conner McNulty for his consistent efforts at goal for Widnes.

Officials: Wheeler, Fielden, Hands

STATS-

Hull Jets: Alex Kent 2+0, Rich Haggar 1+2, Scott Morris 1+1, Dec Jones 1+0, Kieran Beach 0+2, Boris Giba 0+1, Mark Florence 0+1, Ethan Daintith 0+1